Russia

1 January 1970

Russia slideshow

Hard road to World Cup dream for young Russian players

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, teams stand in a line during a children soccer tournament at the Start Stadium in Saransk, Russia. The Start Stadium in Saransk may not look like much, but its the jumping-off point for hundreds of young Russians dreams of soccer stardom. (AP Photo)

Hard road to World Cup dream for young Russian players

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, boys examine trophies during a nine-year-old children soccer tournament at the Start Stadium in Saransk, Russia. The Start Stadium in Saransk may not look like much, but its the jumping-off point for hundreds of young Russians dreams of soccer stardom. (AP Photo)

Hard road to World Cup dream for young Russian players

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, a boy shoots towards the goal, during a children soccer tournament at the Start Stadium in Saransk, Russia. The Start Stadium in Saransk may not look like much, but its the jumping-off point for hundreds of young Russians dreams of soccer stardom.(AP Photo)

Hard road to World Cup dream for young Russian players

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, boys stand next to trophies during a children soccer tournament at the Start Stadium in Saransk, Russia. The Start Stadium in Saransk may not look like much, but its the jumping-off point for hundreds of young Russians dreams of soccer stardom. (AP Photo)

Hard road to World Cup dream for young Russian players

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, boys play during a children soccer tournament at the Start Stadium in Saransk, Russia. The Start Stadium in Saransk may not look like much, but its the jumping-off point for hundreds of young Russians dreams of soccer stardom. (AP Photo)

WORLD CUP: Cruyff-inspired Netherlands falls short in 1974

FILE - In this July 3, 1974 file photo, Netherlands forward Johann Cruyff scores his team's second goal against Brazil in their World Cup soccer match in Dortmund, West Germany. The Netherlands beats Brazil 2-0 to qualify for the World Cup final, where it lost 2-1 despite going ahead. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo, File)

Will Smith, Nicky Jam & Era Istrefi to collaborate on official 2018 World Cup song

The two American-born stars will combine with the Albanian to make the official anthem for this summer's event in Russia

This photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018 shows a view of the interior of the Olympic Sports Center where Panama's soccer team will live during the 2018 World Cup in Saransk, Russia. Russia is trying to wipe its sports reputation clean by hosting the World Cup after years of doping scandals. In the host city of Saransk, a training center notorious for doping abuses and tainted medals will now be the home of Panamas soccer team. (AP Photo/Julia Chestnova)

FIFA said it could find no evidence of doping among players from World Cup host nation Russia's squad

FIFA said it could find no evidence of doping among players from World Cup host nation Russia's squad (AFP Photo/FABRICE COFFRINI)

Will VAR improve the World Cup?

VAR was used at the Confederations Cup in Russia last year.

FIFA finds no doping cases in Russia's World Cup squad

The 28 players called up for the host nation's preliminary squad have been cleared of any potential violations

FILE PHOTO: Mayor of Yekaterinburg Roizman attends opening ceremony of the City Day celebrations in Yekaterinburg

FILE PHOTO: Mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman attends opening ceremony of the City Day celebrations in Yekaterinburg, Russia, August 19, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

FILE - In this June 22, 1994 file photo, Colombia's Andres Escobar, lies on the ground during a World Cup soccer match against the United States in the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. The US defeated Colombia by 2-1, with Escobar scoring an own-goal. Just a few days later, Escobar was shot dead in his home town of Medellin. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2018 file photo Nice's head coach Lucien Favre watches the Europa League Round of 32 second leg soccer match between Lokomotiv Moscow and Nice in Moscow, Russia. Borussia Dortmund has signed Lucien Favre as coach from French side Nice. The Bundesliga club says Tuesday, May 22, 2018 the 60-year-old Favre, who previously coached league rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach and Hertha Berlin, has signed a deal through June 2020. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin.file)

Russian central bank deputy chairwoman Skorobogatova holds the newly designed 100-rouble banknotes dedicated to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, during a news conference in Moscow

Russian central bank deputy chairwoman Olga Skorobogatova holds the newly designed 100-rouble banknotes dedicated to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, during a news conference in Moscow, Russia May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, people exit the Olympic Sports Center where Panama's soccer team will live during the 2018 World Cup in Saransk, Russia. Russia is trying to wipe its sports reputation clean by hosting the World Cup after years of doping scandals. In the host city of Saransk, a training center notorious for doping abuses and tainted medals will now be the home of Panamas soccer team. (AP Photo/Julia Chestnova)

Russia's doping capital gears up for World Cup

This photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018 shows a view of the Olympic Sports Center where Panama's soccer team will live during the 2018 World Cup in Saransk, Russia. Russia is trying to wipe its sports reputation clean by hosting the World Cup after years of doping scandals. In the host city of Saransk, a training center notorious for doping abuses and tainted medals will now be the home of Panamas soccer team. (AP Photo/Julia Chestnova)

Russia's doping capital gears up for World Cup

In this photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, a receptionist sits at the reception desk of the Olympic Sports Center where Panama's soccer team will live during the 2018 World Cup in Saransk, Russia. Russia is trying to wipe its sports reputation clean by hosting the World Cup after years of doping scandals. In the host city of Saransk, a training center notorious for doping abuses and tainted medals will now be the home of Panamas soccer team. (AP Photo/Julia Chestnova)

Russia's doping capital gears up for World Cup

This photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018, shows an indoor soccer pitch at the Olympic Sports Center in Saransk, Russia. Russia is trying to wipe its sports reputation clean by hosting the World Cup after years of doping scandals. In the host city of Saransk, a training center notorious for doping abuses and tainted medals will now be the home of Panamas soccer team. (AP Photo/Julia Chestnova)

Russia's doping capital gears up for World Cup

This photo taken on Thursday, May 17, 2018 shows a restaurant at the Olympic Sports Center where Panama's soccer team will live during the 2018 World Cup in Saransk, Russia. Russia is trying to wipe its sports reputation clean by hosting the World Cup after years of doping scandals. In the host city of Saransk, a training center notorious for doping abuses and tainted medals will now be the home of Panamas soccer team. (AP Photo/Julia Chestnova)

Before the global football fiesta in Russia, some African players have travelled to different parts of the world for fun and relaxation

Belgium goes to World Cup without Nainggolan

Belgium's head coach Roberto Martinez presents his squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup soccer during a media conference at the Belgian Football Center in Tubize, Belgium, on Monday, May 21, 2018. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Belgium goes to World Cup without Nainggolan

Belgium's head coach Roberto Martinez presents his squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup soccer during a media conference at the Belgian Football Center in Tubize, Belgium, on Monday, May 21, 2018. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Belgium goes to World Cup without Nainggolan

Belgium's head coach Roberto Martinez presents his squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup soccer during a media conference at the Belgian Football Center in Tubize, Belgium, on Monday, May 21, 2018. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Belgium goes to World Cup without Nainggolan

Belgium's head coach Roberto Martinez presents his squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup soccer during a media conference at the Belgian Football Center in Tubize, Belgium, on Monday, May 21, 2018. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Alvaro Morata left out of Spain's World Cup squad

FILE - In this Tuesday, March 27, 2018 file photo, Spain's national soccer coach Julen Lopetegui listens to the national anthem during the international friendly soccer match between Spain and Argentina at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid. Lopetegui has surpassed expectations after stepping into a tricky situation when he took as coach over the Spanish national team two years ago but he has made Spain a top contender again heading into the World Cup in Russia by giving the team a fresh identity and successfully mixing talented youngsters and fading veterans. (AP Photo/Paul White, File)

Alvaro Morata left out of Spain's World Cup squad

FILE - In this March 27, 2018 file photo, Spain's national soccer coach Julen Lopetegui reacts during the international friendly soccer match between Spain and Argentina at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain. Lopetegui has surpassed expectations after stepping into a tricky situation when he took as coach over the Spanish national team two years ago but he has made Spain a top contender again heading into the World Cup in Russia by giving the team a fresh identity and successfully mixing talented youngsters and fading veterans. (AP Photo/Paul White, File)

Nainggolan retires from Belgium duty after World Cup snub

The Roma midfielder was a surprise omission from Roberto Martinez's roster for the tournament in Russia this summer

FILE - In this July 4, 1954 file photo, West Germany's Helmut Rahn, center with arms raised, celebrates after equalizing in the World Cup soccer final match against Hungary, at Wankdorf Stadium, in Bern, Switzerland. West Germany would go on to win the match 3-2. The 21st World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018, when host Russia takes on Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/File)